Ford Motor Co. revealed that it will be offering a new Power Stroke 3.0-liter V6 engine for its F-150 trucks. With this addition, customers now have a total of six choices for the engine of the F-150.

The new engine is capable of delivering 250 hp with peak torque of 440 lb.-ft., figures that customers are sure to love. Fuel efficiency meanwhile is expected to be at an EPA-estimated value of 30 mpg highway. Towing capacity is projected to be the best for its segment at 11,400 lbs. with payload capacity measured to be at 2,020 lbs.

This latest engine was designed by none other than the same powertrain team responsible for coming up with the Power Stroke 6.7-liter engine used in Ford’s Super Duty trucks going back as far as 2011. The new engine was developed in order to meet the specific demands of F-150 customers in North America. These are customers that haul and tow more frequently compared to customers in other markets. Proof of this is the fact that the maximum torque is accessible at 1,750 rpm, with strong torque being delivered all across the rpm range. These features make the F-150 the best vehicle to haul, or even tow, heavy loads across long distances.

In 2011, Ford announced the retirement of certain vehicles including the Ford Crown Victoria, the Police Interceptor Sedan that is based on the Ford Taurus, and the Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility - vehicles that served as options for many police forces around the United States. But just recently, Ford introduced the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan and the new F-150 Police Responder to further expand its range. And both models are now pursuit rated.

To become a pursuit rated vehicle, the car must go through a test that includes driving 32 laps around the Grattan Raceway. Undergoing these laps evaluates the vehicles’ features such as its durability, pertaining to how its powertrain, suspension, brake, and tire systems perform.

After going through tests, the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, which we first heard of in April, did better than the Crown Victoria when it comes to efficiency, and it is faster too. The former returns an EPA-estimated mile per gallon rating of 40 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined, while the latter does 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined rating.

Here are some things that potential buyers of the Ford F-150 and Ford Expedition could look forward to for the 2018 model year. The 2018 models of the F-150 pickup truck and the Expedition sports utility vehicle are now available with new engines that don’t only offer greater performance, but also provide better efficiency than the mills they are replacing.

Ford notes that the 75 percent of 2017 F-150 trucks sold were powered by V6 engines. Thus, the carmaker is now introducing new engines, including a new V6 mill. The 2018 F-150 could be powered by a new 3.3-liter V6 engine that provides more power output and torque – as well as more efficient -- than the larger 3.5-liter V6 it replaced. Ford was able to squeeze greater levels of performance and efficiency into this smaller V6 engine by adding dual port and direct-injection technology.

Compared to 3.5-liter V6 engine in the 2017 F-150, the new 3.3-liter V6 mill in the 2018 F-150 produces 8 hp more max output (290 hp at 6,500 rpm) and 12 lb.-ft. more peak torque (265 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm).

Even cops get excited when they’re assigned to drive the best cars in the market. In Austria, police officers drive around in a Porsche 911 Carrera while in Milan, authorities run after bad guys in a Ferrari 458 Spider.

In the United States, one of the biggest automakers that provide vehicles in the law enforcement would be Ford. Manager of commercial and government fleet sales of Ford, Michele Bartlett, said that in 2016, the company has sold 43,000 police vehicles alone, that is about 60 percent of the market. Now, Ford had just revealed the 2018 F-150 Police Responder, and they are hoping to further expand their presence in the country.

The 2018 F-150 Police Responder is the first pursuit-rated pickup truck and is based on the FX4 off-road package. This package gives the Police Responder a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that enables it to put out 375 horsepower and 470 pound feet of torque, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. This will enable the truck to reach a top speed of 100 miles per hour in no time. The package is only sold as a SuperCrew with a 5.5-foot bed.

The wait for the Mustang’s GT-based Super Snake concept to be released is finally over. Shelby had recently collaborated with Ford Performance and Borla to come up with something that will definitely interest truck enthusiasts. The F-150 gets a Super Snake treatment that makes it even more hardcore than the already intimidating Raptor. And what makes it even more special is that the company is only building 150 examples.

Let’s begin with performance. The F-150 Super Snake will be equipped with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine that can carry out a whopping 750 horsepower (600 kilowatts). This engine will be paired with a two-wheel or a four-wheel drive configuration depending on the customer’s preference.

In terms of design, the Super Snake comes with a more aggressive body from the redesigned hood to the new bumpers. The tonneau cover and the extra spoilers are all custom-made. To make it even more distinct than a regular F-150, the special edition gets a set of 22-inch chrome wheels, and racing stripes that stretch from the hood, the roof, all the way to the rear of the truck, contrasting its blue exterior paint job – in typical Shelby fashion. The easiest way to spot one of these examples would be through the Super Snake badging that you’ll find on the front grille, and also in the interior.

And so it goes, Ford is not at all closing its doors to an all-electric F-150 pickup. The American manufacturer initially laid out its plans for an F-150 hybrid earlier this year and promises to come out with a vehicle with outstanding payload and towing capacity.

Although a hybrid makes better sense, Ford CTO Raj Nair said he isn’t ruling out the possibility of an electric version of the F150. Also during his recent interview with Yahoo, Nair further stated how much they consider electrification as a “bonus”. Therefore, it is an advantage since it doubles as a “power generating source” on a hybrid, he said.

Earlier reports claim that Ford is looking to introduce a hybridized F-150 pickup by 2020. If so, this hybrid pickup would still largely depend on gasoline since it doesn’t come with a plugin powertrain to start with. Certainly, it would be a game changer if Ford pushes for a pure battery powered version of the F-150. As we already know, this eco-friendly technology provides great benefit for trucks due to the massive amount of torque coming from electric powertrains.

Step aside Chevy Colorado ZR2, off-roading has now been taken to the next level with the unveiling of converted heavy-duty off roaders named the “MegaRaptor” and “SuperRaptor”. We think it’s awesome that it sounds like a character from a Japanese science fiction movie or Transformers.

We’ve seen the 2017 Ford-150 Raptor, and some of us would consider that model a monster truck, with its 3.5 liter twin-turbocharged V6 and 450 horsepower. However, for some, that still isn’t enough of a monster - which is why the Mega- and SuperRaptors are here.

Jeremy Dixon of F250R, based in Tucson, Arizona is the man who thought of this insane but enviable plan. He says that the custom bodywork can be done on any 2005 - 2016 F-250s pickup trucks. His team gave 46 inch tires to the MegaRaptor and 40 inch tires for the SuperRaptor. According to Drive, that’s the primary difference between the two models.

The next time you hear a police siren, you might be surprised when you see one of Ford’s newest police interceptors in the form of the 2018 F-150 Special Service Vehicle and 2018 Expedition Special Service Vehicle. Of course, you have to give way to them, but still you can’t help but stare at the dynamic and aggressive beauty of these police monsters.

Specifically tweaked to meet the demand and requirement of its law enforcement, government customers as well as of fleet clients, the 2018 F-150 Special Service Vehicle and 2018 Expedition Special Service Vehicle are both built with high-strength aluminum-alloy bodies, 10-speed column-mounted shifters as well as vinyl seats. Both of these special service vehicles (F-150 SSV and the Expedition SSV) are powered, as standard, by the second-generation of Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, which is mated to a Ford-built 10-speed automatic gearbox that boasts of acceleration and performance levels better than six-speed automatic transmissions.

This new 10-speed transmission is suited with either (4x4 or 4x2) and with any available engine for the F-150 Special Service Vehicle. The F-150 SSV could also be powered by a newly upgraded 5.0-liter V8 engine. Meanwhile, the 3.73 rear differential on the new Expedition SSV, is now an electronic limited-slip differential. Both the F-150 SSV and the Expedition SSV now feature Auto Start-Stop technology to allow for improved fuel efficiency.

Many people prefer pickup trucks for a variety of reasons, even though they are more of a fuel guzzler than cars. These reasons include practicality, power, off-road capability and solidity. However, if there is something that you would find on cars but might not on trucks, it is the possibility of open-top driving.

But what if you could have convertible version of a pickup truck? That would be very nice. If you’re one of those raring to drive a convertible pickup truck, you belong to a market niche that remains untapped until now. However, a specialized company – named Newport Convertible Engineering (NCE) – has been trying to cater to customized convertible since 1983. Just recently, NCE unveiled its latest convertible transformation project – a Ford F-150 Convertible.

No, NCE’s Ford F-150 Convertible is not a visual rendering. Nowadays, a number of skillful visual artists have managed to create renderings of possible yet non-existent versions of different vehicles. But what has been created remains on the software or on the paper and no actual vehicle is made. But in case of NCE, it has actually created a real-world Ford F-150 Convertible.

More capable, smarter, and tougher, these are the three words that best describe the all-new 2018 Ford F-150 Pickup from Ford. This latest offering will become a member of the F-Series truck family, long considered as the best-selling vehicle for a total of 35 years and the best-selling truck in the U.S. for 40 years straight.

It was three years ago when the company revealed the first generation of this model. It had fully utilized the military-grade high-strength aluminum alloy for the body. Now the new model is fitted with better engines and sports a new style for both the front and the rear. It even has a number of innovative technologies equipped like the Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection.

Aside from capability, the 2018 F-150 makes good on the Built Ford Tough commitment through a good use of different advanced materials that not only prevent corrosion but also make it more durable. The use of high-strength steel for the boxed ladder frame and the same aluminum alloy of the first generation ensure that the F-150 is lightweight and truly capable.

Ford has good news to customers and potential clients avidly waiting for the hybrid versions of the Ford Mustang and Ford F-150 – they will be coming in the next few years. The Mustang hybrid and the F-150 hybrid are just two of the 13 electrified vehicles that Ford is planning to add to its global lineup.

Seven of these 13 electrified offerings will be launched by the American carmaker in the next five years, including the hybrid versions of the Mustang and the F-150. Ford is planning to introduce the hybrid variant of the F-150 pickup by the end of the decade in North America and the Middle East. Just like the conventional F-150, the hybrid version would offer outstanding towing and payload capacity. If needed, the F-150 hybrid could serve as a mobile generator.

Meanwhile, the hybrid version of the Mustang muscle car will utilize a V8 engine complementing electric motors. Thanks to this setup, the Mustang could offer low-end torque. Ford will build the Mustang Hybrid at its Flat Rock Plant and will launch it in 2020 in North America.

Say hello to the VelociRaptor 6X6 Concept from Hennessey Performance (HPE)! HPE essentially picked out a base 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor truck and transformed it into six-wheel drive off-road vehicle boasting of an output of over 600 horsepower.

The VelociRaptor 6X6 concept – with a starting price of $295,000 – has the base 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor four-door truck, upgraded Fox suspension, 6X6 locking rear axles, special front and rear bumpers, roll bar and LED lights as well as upgraded 20-inch wheels wrapped in off-road tires. For customers seeking a more powerful version, they could avail of HPE’s VelociRaptor 600 twin turbo upgrade, which includes upgraded twin turbochargers, upgraded front mounted air-to-air intercooler and plumbing and stainless steel exhaust modifications, as well as re-tuned factory computer, electronic upgrades and armoring systems.

Moreover, Hennessey's VelociRaptor 6X6 concept is also specified with larger wheels and tires, upgraded Brembo front and rear brake, upgraded LED lighting and customized interiors. This twin turbo upgrade could be availed by new Raptor customers at $22,500. John Hennessey, founder and chief executive of HPE, quipped that the company has built over 800 VelociRaptor modified Raptor trucks for clients around the world in the past five years.

Pickup trucks are usually known for their gas-guzzling nature, especially when they are powered by high-output engines. The new Ford F-150 changes this game for the 2017 model year, with both its rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models posting impressive gains not only in terms of max power output and peak torque, but also in the area of fuel efficiency (city, highway and combined).

The core of this improvement on the new 2017 Ford F-150 is none other than the terrific combination of a more powerful yet more efficient new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine (second generation) and the first volume-production 10-speed automatic transmission that allows for further enhancements in performance (especially acceleration) and efficiency, as well as towing and hauling control. Thanks to this combo, the new Ford F-150 is able to provide better low-end and peak performance, making it suitable for towing heavy trailers as well as hauling heavy payloads.

Ford expects that its EcoBoost-equipped F-150 trucks will account for over a million units running on the road over the next year. This means that over 110 million gallons of gas could be saved by F-150 owners over the next year, while still out-hauling its truck rivals.

The Auto Start-Stop system is now a standard feature in the entire lineup of 2017 Ford F-150 EcoBoost-equipped pickups. The Auto Start-Stop technology is a system which automatically shuts down the car engine when the car is in neutral state, and restarts the engine when the driver steps on the pedal again.

2016 F-150 with 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine offers Auto Start-stop function as standard equipment. With this technology, the model offers the best payload, EPA-estimated gas mileage, and towing capability in its class.

To further consolidate its status as the leading manufacturer of trucks in America, Ford has expanded the Auto Start-Stop function across all EcoBoost-equipped 2017 F-150 pickups, including the all-new F-150 Raptor. These 2017 F-150 models also come with powerful 3.5-litre Ecoboost engines, with the all-new high-output version for F-150 Raptor inclusive.

Because of a simple solution, the redesigned 2015 Ford F-150 SuperCrew was able to pass the Institute for Highway Safety’s small offset crash test. Tubular bars were welded to the pickup’s frame. These were positioned in the front wheel wells, fore and aft of the tire.

It worked so well that it wasn’t really much of a challenge for the redesigned 2015 Ford F-150 SuperCrew to pass the test. A similar solution is planned by Ram for all of its pickups, starting with the 20151/2 Ram Rebel that had its release last month.

IIHS has only just started its testing on light-duty pickups. Last July 30, the IIHS crash-tested a 2015 Toyota Tundra. So far, how the Tundra did in the test hasn’t been announced yet.

Ford Motor Co. will be launching a Limited version of the F-150 to cope with the rising demand for high-end pickups. The F-150 Limited is likely to have a starting price of about $60,000. With options, it will probably exceed $70,000. It has recently been introduced in Los Angeles and it is slated to start selling as a 2016 model this winter.

It will be equipped with a set of 22-inch polished aluminum wheels and Mojave leather seats. Its interior features aluminum and fiddleback eucalyptus as accents. The production number of every truck made is laser-engraved in a VIN plate on the center console lid. In a statement, Ford’s product development chief Raj Nair said that a new bar is set by the F-150 Limited for what customers should expect in a high-end truck.

Nair said that Ford is adding technologies that are segment-exclusive. It will receive features that boost productivity, convenience, and performance as well as those that boast some distinctive styling. The 2013 and 2014 F-150 had a Limited trim available for $53,000 and higher but this was stopped when the aluminum-bodied 2015 model entered the market.

Ford Motor Co. confirmed that it has already boosted the output of the 2015 F-150 at two of the plants that produce the aluminum-bodied pickups, according to CFO Bob Shanks. There were reports that the plants were unable to have their scheduled overtime because of a shortage of frames that were built by suppliers.

Shanks recently faced analysts’ questions about the frame shortage. He won’t admit that the automaker was having difficulties with the supply of the frames from Kentucky-based Metalsa. He only answered by saying that the launch proceeded better than they expected. Shanks said that during launches, the automaker has to deal with supply issues but that “if there’s an issue,” they will sort it out.

He also said that the launch process in the factories located in Dearborn, Mich., and Kansas City, Mo., have been completed and are currently in “volume production.” Last January, the Dearborn plant was able to reach full speed. The automaker had recently revealed that Kansas City Assembly will get to this level by the end of this month.

Ford Motor Co. is hiring 1,550 hourly workers in the first quarter of 2015 to hike output of the F-150 pickup. The move will means that between 300 and 500 UAW members under Tier 2 hourly wage level ($19.28) will be promoted to top-tier status ($28.50), according to Bill Dirksen, Ford vice president of labor affairs.

They would be the first entry-level UAW workers to be promoted to top-tier wages under terms of Ford's 2011 UAW contract. Most of them were hired from February through June 2010 and work at Ford’s Kansas City, Louisville and Chicago assembly sites.

Dirksen disclosed the new employees will be sent to: Ford’s truck assembly plant in Kansas City, Mo. (900 new workers); the stamping and diversified operations in Dearborn, Mich. (500 workers); and at Ford’s Sterling Axle plant in suburban Detroit (150 workers).

Ford Motor Co. used the first-ever College Football Playoff as a platform to launch its ads campaign for the new aluminum F-150, with the first three spots highlighting how the new body paved way for a more durable and stronger pickup.

Ford will start highlighting how the F-150’s lighter aluminum body makes it the most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered full-size pickup available when the fourth spot is launched at a later date.

The main reason why the truck’s fuel-efficiency advantage wasn’t mentioned in the first three spots could be that Ford is launching the ad campaign for the F-150 earlier than it usual, and its EPA ratings were still not available to be included in the initial ads.

If you don’t think that the 2015 Ford F-150 is an attractive vehicle, then you’d better take a closer look at the 2015 Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 Supercharged. That’s right folks, the VelociRaptor is back and Hennessey seems confident that it will repeat the success it had with over four-hundred VelociRaptor 600 Supercharged trucks built over the past four years.

What’s more interesting is that the 2015MY F-150 is almost 700 pounds lighter than the outgoing model thanks to the aluminum body. Even more interesting is the 5.0-liter V8 engine found under the hood, which received a high-flow air induction as well as a stainless steel exhaust system, new fuel injectors as well as Hennessey’s engine management calibration.